Partition construction



Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. SWANSON, F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-SEVENTH T0ERICK G. SAMPSON, ONE-SEVENTH TO FREDRICK CHARLES HERBY, ONE-SEVENTH TOG-USTAF R. THOBE-N, ONE-SEVENTH TO LAURENCE- H. A. JOHNSON, ONE- SEVENTHOF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

TO OSCAR J'. LARSON, AND ONE-SEVENTH TO CHARLES E.

BACKUS, ALL

PARTITION ooiisriwcrion.

Application filed December 7, 1927. Serial No. 238,421.

This invention relates to an improvement in partition construction andmore particularly to adjustable filler members therefore.

In its preferred embodiment this invention forms part of a partitionconstruction and comprises adjustable members adapted to be extended orretracted with relation to a ilaster and an adjoining wall.

While it is known that many styles of removablepartitions have beenconstructed, it

is believed that none of them provide for automatically taking up thespace between a pilaster and a given wall. At present it is almost aprerequisite that partitions be built exactly to given dimensionsnecessitating a considerable amount of work and expense.

It is applicants endeavor to disclose herein a partition constructionincluding an adjustable filler member which will automati- 2o cally takeup and occupy the space between a given wall and the adjacent pilasterwithout the necessity of holding to close and accurate dimensions.

An object of this invention is to provide a partition constructionincluding a filler member which will automatically adapt itself when inplace to engage a wall and ad acent pilaster.

Another. object of this invention is to pro- Vide a filler member ofthis class which will not only automatically adjust itself to a givenwall and pilaster, but will be firmly held in engagement with'sai d walland pilaster by means forming apart of said member. A. further object ofthis invention IS tO provide a filler member of this class which havingformed part of a partition may be readily removed therefrom and again becapable of repeated use in other partitions.

Other objects of this invention will appear from a consideration of thefollowing specification taken in connection with the drawings which forma part thereof and in which;

6 in. height partition, showing the filler member in position withrelation to the pilaster and wall;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken in the same plane as that of Fig. 1,parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the structuraldetails;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary View of a 7 ft.-

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and showsthe'movable portion of the filler member in its extended position, and yFig. 4 is a sectional'view taken in the same plane with that of Fig. ,3,showing the movable portion of the filler memberin its retractedposition.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 3, this inventioncomprises a filler member 10, pilaster 12, frame 13, and panel 14. Thefiller member comprises a fixed channel member 16, a movable member 17and spring clips 19. The channel 16 along its rear or closed wall 20 isprovided with raised portions or prongs 22 which are adapted toengagethe wall 23 when said member is in position of wor The walls 25 of themember 16 extend at right angles to the wall 20 thereof, and are bentinwardly to form flanges 26, said flanges 26 terminating in furtherflanges 27 which extend into the space 28 within the channel 16. The.movable member 17 is channular in shape and at its opened end isprovided with a reinforcing bracket 30, said bracket being secured alongits flanges 31 to the walls 32 of the member 17 in any suitable manneras by welding. Against the inner face 34 of the bracket 30 and se curedthereto in any suitable manner as by welding, the spring clips 19 arelocated. These clips are substantially U shaped having walls 36 whichterminate in reverse curved portions 87. The portions 37, when thefiller member is assembled, are adapted to abutthe inner face of thewall 20.

The pilaster 12 comprises a frame portion 40, a reinforcing bracket 41therefore, and a removable plate 43. The wall 44 of the frame 40terminates in flanged portions 45, the purpose of which will later bedescribed. The walls 46 of the frame 40 are at right angles to the wall44 and form a continuation of the flanged portions 45. These walls 46terminate in inwardly extending flanges 47 The bracket 41 forms asupport between the walls 46 of the frame 40 and is secured theretoalong its flanges 48, by welding or any other suitable means. The ends49 of the flanges 48, when the bracket 41' is in position, abut theinner edges of flanges 47 and thereby Illitterially strengthening them.The removable plate 43 is comprised of a wall 51 and flanged portions52. It is to be noted that the wall 51 and flanges 52 of the plate 43conform identically in size, shape and relative position to the wall 44and flanges 45 of the frame 40. The flanges 52, however, are bentinwardly at 54 away from the face 51 and terminate in clip like portions55. When the removable plate 43 is in position, with relation to theframe 40, the inner walls of the flanged pore tions 52 abut the flanges47, the curved portion 54 extending around said flanges and the clips 55bear against the walls 48 of the bracket 41.

The panel frame 13 comprises walls 58 which are adapted to rest againstthe face 46 of the frame 40 and between the flanged portions 45 and 52.The panel 14 is secured in any suitable manner, in the present instanceby moulding 59 which holds it against one wall of the frame 58. Inasmuchas the frame 13 and panel 14 d0 not form a part of this inventionfurther description thereof will be unnecessary.

When it is desired to set up and assemble partitions embodying thisinvention the following steps are to be observed: The frame 40 of thepilaster 12 is secured to the floor in any suitable manner (not shown).The filler member 10 consistingof the channular member 16, movablemember 17, and spring clips 19, are next assembled by simply insertingthe member 17, with the clips 19 secured thereto, in the space betweenthe flanges 27 until the portion 37 of the clips abut the inner face ofthe wall 20. In practically every instance the space between the wall 23and the face 46 of the pilaster is less than the extended width of thefiller member and in order to position said filler member within thisspace the movable member 17 must be forced into close engagement withthe channular member 16, and so held against the action of the springclips 19, until the filler member as a whole has been brought into aposition such that the corner, formed by the walls 32 and 33, strikesthe flanged portion 45. When this occurs the pressure against themovable member 17 may be released and said member, .due to the action ofthe clips 19, will force itself into close engagement with the face 46of the pilaster. WVhen the filler member 10 is in place between the wall23 and the face 46 of the pilaster, it cannot be removed or forced outof engagement with either the pilaster or the wall 23. This is due tothe spring clips 19 which beingof sufiicient strength and tension forcethe wall 20 and prongs 22 into close engagement with the wall 23. Whenthe filler member has been positioned as above described the plate 43 ofthe pilaster is snapped into position on the frame 40. When this is doneone of the flanged portions 52 of the plate 43 acts with one flangedportion 45 to the pilaster, the movable member 17 must be forced intocloser engagement with the channel member 16 when it is desired toremove said member from engagement with the pilaster and the wall. Totear down the partition embodying this invention, the plate 43 of thepilaster is removed and some appropriate instrument such as a screwdriver wedged between the wall 33 and the face 46 to press the member 17into closer engagement with the channel 16 and thereby free said memberfrom its pressure engagement with the face 46.

IVhile only one modification of this invention has been shown anddescribed, applicant does not intend to be limited thereto since it isobvious that other modifications and adaptations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth inthe following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is: o

1. In a removable partition for buildings, an adjustable filler memberand pilaster, said filler member being comprised of fixed and movablechannular elements, inwardly projecting flanges terminating the channelwalls of said fixed element, contacting faces terminating said inwardlyprojecting flanges, said movable element being engaged wit-h andsupported by said fixed element through contact with said faces,'andsprings joined to said movable element and abutting said fixed element,said springs causing said movable element to be extended to engage saidpilaster under pressure.

2. In a removable partition for buildings,

an adjustable filler member and pilaster, said filler member beingcomprised of fixed and movable channular elements. said fixed memberengaging a wall, inwardly turned flanges defining the edges of the wallsof said fixed element, said movable element being channularlv shaped andin sliding engagement with said flanges, a recessed support secured toand closing the open side of said movable element, springs joined tosaid support and abutting said fixed element whereby said movableelement is extended and caused to engage said pilaster under pressure. 7

3. In a removable partition for buildings, an adjustable filler memberand pilaster, said filler member being comprised of fixed and movablechannular'elements, the open side of the fixed element being directedtoward 5 base Wall of said recessed support and and adapted to receivethe Walls defining the open side of said movable element, a recessedsupport secured to and closing the open side of said movable element,springs joined tothe abutting the base Wall of said fixed elementWhereby the base Wall of said movable element is caused to engage saidpilaster under pressure.

4. In a removable partition for buildings,

10 the combination or" an adjustable filler member comprising a fixedchannular element ensaid recess and retained gaging a Wall, a springactuate-d channular element slidably supported in said fixed element,With a pilaster, said pilaster being recessed, a second Wall of saidpilaster removably engaging said first Wall whereby said spring actuatedelement may be mounted in therein by said removable pilaster Wall.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CHARLES J. SWANSON.

